[from the diary of Joseph Addison Waddell, civilian employee of the Quartermaster Dept.]

[From the diary of Jesse Calvin Spaulding, Co. F, 25th Massachusetts]

Saturday
June 14
The regiment went over to division
drill over the river.  After they
came back I went on guard.  Commenced
a letter home.  Was on right behind the cooks
tent.

MSS 11293

[Spaulding will not resume his diary until July 1]

From the diary of Jesse Calvin Spaulding, Co. F, 25th Massachusetts

Sunday
June 1
Got news this forenoon that Banks
had been defeated and driven back
to the Potomac by an overwhelming force
of rebels. Felt pretty savage about it.
Saw by the papers also that Mass. had
sent four thousand more troops to Washing-
ton in one day. Got a letter from home
Had a very pleasant meeting this evening.
Heard also that Corinth was taken.

MSS 11293

[Spaulding does not write in his diary again until June 11]

                                             Clifton June 1st 1862
                                                     Sunday morning

My beloved Husband

                                         Last evening I received
your letter of the 27th containing the first intelligence
of you having reached your fleet–this morning
I have two letters from you, dated 25th & 26th, and mailed
at Cairo.  Your last written letter, gives me the best
account of your health, though all you say, makes me
appreciate more fully, the peculiar danger to you, of
the climate to which you are exposed, and which
I fear must become more dangerous with every
day’s advance.  the difficulties of a proper or willing
co-operation I had so fully anticipated, that I can=
not say, my anxiety is now increased, by finding
them likely to be realized.  The keen torturing personal
anxiety about you, overpowers all other consid=
erations–As to reputation, I have ceased to believe
in the possibility of obtaining it in this country, by
mere intellect, patriotism, and devoted self sacrifice
I expect to see you mis-represented and abused

[page 2]
for the very self-abnegation which causes you to neglect
all care of yourself, or your own interests, in your
intense desire to do something for the country–Only
come back to me, safe & well, my dearest Husband,
and it will be of little importance to us,what
others say or think.  sometimes the pain is so keen
and fierce that I feel as if I could not endure it–
then a sort of dull submission comes over me–
a feeling of weakness and consciousness of my
utter inability to stem the torrent, that seems to be
hurrying us to destruction — then a sudden desire
to do all you would like me to do, and I strive to
interest myself in the children, in the place, in
anything I think you would like me to care about–
But it is a fearful struggle for such a poor weak
nature as mine–
I wish I knew what you will think of
Charlie’s having gone on to join you–It seemed
right and natural at the time–I was much
stunned by the first shock–nothing seemed to
me of much importance but what was connected
with  you. From what you say about the difficulty
of having any writing done, I hope he may have
be of some service to you in that way–This is

[page 3]
his birthday–19 years to day–I have just received
a hurried note from him, by which I find he has
been detained–I would regret this, but feel that it
is impossible to know what is really best–
I will try to think of what would interest you have–
Both Willie & Nina have been quite sick for some days
but are now nearly well again–We have had a
long cold rainy spell, which still continues. the
men say, the harvest is very backward this
year, but Tom Flynn says he will commence cutting
the clover, as soon as it fairly clears up, with some
prospect of sunshine.  We have had no one here but
tom L. James for two weeks past.  The clover looks
very fine.  I wrote yesterday to Mother, giving her
the contents of your letter of the 27th    Mary will write
to her in the morning; one of us will write to her
every other day, or oftener if there is any thing
to tell her.  I received a short letter from her last
evening, from which I judged that she was not so
well as she had been, and that her breast troubles
her more, though she did not complain much of it.
I feel sure that you will neglect no means of writing
to me– but again, I implore you, write fully–
Faithfully to me–Let me know the whole truth

[page 4]
I will strive to do right, to act as you would wish,
but I cannot count on my own discretion if I am
tortured by the suspicion–that any ting is withheld
from me–It has been easy heretofore, but now with
this torture of apprehension of deadly peril, ever
present to me, it is absolutely necessary to my self=
control, that I shall feel assured of knowing the truth
the whole truth—

Mary sends her best love to her beloved Father–
so so the little ones, who seem to have an uneasy
consciousness that something is wrong, and ask me
constantly when dear Father will come home–I
cannot talk to them about you now–
Remember me affectionately to dear Alfred
if he is with you–I will write to his wife as soon
as I can–She must be suffering great anxiety.
Give my best love to m dear Son if he is with
you, and tell him I count on him to see that you
have no discomfort for fatigue that he can
spare you–May Heaven bless you both, and
bring you back safe to us–

your devoted and most anxious wife

unsigned letter of Elvira Stuart Ellet, wife of Charles Ellet, jr., 1810-1862, currently in command of the “Queen of the West.”  Alfred would be the Commodore’s brother, Union general Alfred Washington Ellet, 1820-1895.

MSS 276

[from the diary of Jonathan Hager of the 14th U.S. Regulars, as copied and annotated at a later date]

June 1  accordingly at daybreak
we were up.  soon disposed of our coffee & hard
bread & we were ready for the march. No orders
came & thus the morning passed away while the
fighting was going on in front.  Twas a very hot
day & the troops engaged suffered immensely
from heat & want of water.  This was the battle
of “Seven Pines” and was a substantial victory
for our arms.  Had it not been for the tremendous
rain of the 30th before spoken of which had now
raised the Chickahominy over its banks and thus
preventing his artillery from crossing Genl. McClellan
would have followed the rebels into Richmond–
The storm saved the rebel army.  We fully expected
to day a general engagement that would decide
the war and accordingly most of the officers,
myself among the number made our prepa-
rations in case we fell.  I had written a letter
to my wife and one to my brother Jacob to be
forwarded to them in case I fell on the field.

MSS 9044

House five miles from Richmond
Sunday, June 1st 1862 25 min past 12 oclk
I have an opportunity, my darling, to
write you a few lines to assure you
of my safety, and to give you
a short account of the battle
that commenced yesterday.
Day before yesterday just
before night, we were relieved
from picket duty and ordered
to camp near the toll gate
about two miles from Richmond
J W Knight that evening received
a letter from his wife and
family in which she said you
had written her asking her to
accompany you on a visit
to Richmond.  I fondly thought
of telegraphing you to come,
hoping I might have some
leisure to spend in your
dear society, But early in the

[page 2]
morning the troops began to
move down the Williamsburg
Road and about 11 o’clock P.M.
we were ordered to advance.
As we came down we heard
the first shot fired at 20 min
past 1 o’clock. P.M. The cav-
alry has not up to this time
been engaged with the Enemy,
so I can only report to you
what I heard.  We made
the attack & the fight con-
tinued from the hour men-
-tioned above until after
dark.  We drove the enemy
back beyond their camp
and their first line of
entrenchments, took their
tents & the cannon they
mounted in their breast
works. We hold these
now and I suppose, though
this is mere matter of in-

[page 3]
ference with me, the Generals
are making arrangements
to keep up the fight and
to prosecute their success.
I shall send you a
note, darling, whenever
I can giving you infor-
-mation of what we are
doing.  I thank God for
this victory, & pray that he
may give me strength of
arm & courage of heart
to discharge my duty, and
may preserve me through
all the perils of battle.
Dont be alarmed. I repeat
again at any rumors
you may hear. If any
thing happens to me
 will try to have you
informed at once.

I have written you
twice, dearest wife, since I

[page 4]
received your last letter
and I suppose there is now a
letter from you for me at
the post office in Richmond.
Forgive any thing in those notes
that you think amiss, but, my
darling, it is impossible at times
for me to write otherwise.  You
are so inexpressibly dear to me.
I thirst so intensely for your
presence. the memories of your
tender, overflowing, abounding
love for me are so trans-
porting, that when I come
to write to you, I set down
the swelling emotions of my
heart without regarding
too strictly forms and modes
of expression.  Good bye my
own, my darling wife.  Kiss our
children for me. Love to Mrs Riddle
Remember me kindly to the servants.
I kiss you, dearest wife, with unutterable
fondness, & pray God to bless & guard you
& our children.  Yr affectionate husband
John T. Thornton

Mr Deland[?] of Prince George has just come in
& tells me that Genl Hill has informed his
troops that he has just received a message
from Genl Longstreet that if they will
hold their position till night McClellan
is whipped

[with this letter is the last part of another letter also dated June 1st/62]
 2nd sheet June 1st/62
that you have made me a
different man and given
me a higher character
than before I knew you
It is with pleasure I make
this confession to you, my
own dearest wife (This serv-
vice in the army has not
been without its benefits
and as I trust, great last-
ing and eternal benefits
to me  The busy, bustling life
I had led ever since I left
College until  I left home
for the Wars, gave me but
little time for calm, serious
sober thought on my past
history and future life.
In the quiet of the outpost
in the stillness of the camp at
night in the weary solitary
journeys to visit the chain
of sentinels,m I find ample
time for reflection.  With

[page 2]
no books to read, with no
business cares to engross
or distract my attention,
my mind has turned back
upon itself and often has
the path I have trod been
travelled over again by me.)
Thoughts of you, dearest,
restrained me from those
vulgar vices of the camp,
drinking and card playing.
Thoughts of you, darling,
kept back my tongue from
profanity: and then thought
of the words you had spoken
and written to me, my own
true wife (and thoughts of
the goodness of God and of my
sins and of my need as a man
led me to seek salvation
through the mercy of God

[page 3]
I trust my darling, that I truly
believe and shall prove faith-
ful to the end and be an
inheritor of the promises.
If I am spared to return home I
trust that you and I , darling, will
live through the long years to serve our
Heavenly Father who has been so kind
to us, if such be his Holy will.  Bit
if in his wisdom and justice & mercy
He determines otherwise and either one
of us be shortly taken from the
other, then may the other bear
with meekness the chastisement
and look forward to a reunion
in Gods own good time on that
blessed shore “where adieus and
farewells are [?] un-
known” &c
I have written you this note,
my own darling wife, in this
summer afternoon, with tender

[page 4]
love for you gushing from my
heart I have deemed it right to tell
you my sweet, precious one, of the in-
fluence you have exerted on my
character, and to let you know
that you are, dearest, truly a
crown of glory to me.______
I have but little news to write.  This
morning about sunrise Genl Garland
sent out a line of skirmishers. They
soon met with the enemy and quite
a brisk fire was kept up for
twenty or thirty minutes.–It passed
off with the skirmish and every
thing has been quiet except an
occasional shot from the pickets.
It is now 6 o’clock in the afternoon
Kiss all the boys for me.  Give my
love to Mrs Riddle; I hope she
has recovered.  Remember me
kindly to the servants. Farewell
darling  I pres you to my heart. &
print a thousand kisses on your lips–
May God bless you & our dear children
yr affectionate husband
John T. Thornton.

John Thruston Thornton, 3rd Virginia Cavalry


MSS 4021

Fort Albany,  June 1st / 62

Dear Wife
I feel this afternoon as though
I want to write you a few lines but it is
so awful hot and muggy, that I feel almost
to lazy to attempt it,  The weather today
is like unto some of the days that we have
at home in dog-days, one that makes a fellow
feel sticky and dirty. I went to take a long
walk this forenoon, and to get some strawberr-
ies. We found plenty of them, large, ripe, and
lucious,some of them were very large, being
an inch through or more. I could not help
feeling kind of mean, while eating them for
it seemed to me that I ought to pick, and
save, some of the best of them, to carry into
the house, for you and the children,  I
could not do it though, so you must take
the will for the deed.   You would be surprised
to see the orchards of Peach trees that we passed
by on our route, loaded down with green
fruit.  Blackberries I think must be very plenty

[page 2]
here in the season of them for the bushes
are very full of blossoms  We’ll have some of them
if we are here when they are ripe. I was very much
disappointed last night (Saturday) in not receiving
a letter from you I expected one sure, I like
to receive word from you on Saturdays, because
I can have it to read and “reread” on Sunday,
which is kind of a leisure day with us, but I
“reckon” you are always busy in the discharge
of your duties, on week days, and that is
the reason. I dont find any fault you know,
only I thought I would mention it for the
sake of having something to write about.
                                   Sunday eve 6 o’clk
It is very pleasant, but quite warm yet.  We have
just heard that Gen Bans and Shields has got
the rebel Gen Jackson surrounded so that he
cannot get away, it may be nothing but a
story, we shall hear tomorrow, whether it
be true or not.  To-day a company of cavalry,
belonging to the Michigan 1st Regmt, passed
by here on their way to Leesburg, after rebel
prisoners, and are going to bring them back this way
                                      (so they said)

[page 3]
I wish you could be here now Priscilla,
if it were only for a few moments just to
see how very pleasant it is, and how very
beautiful the trees and bushes look, every-
thing looks so green and thrifty, there are some
very large black walnut trees, that I can see
as I sit here, writing, at my tent door.  How
I’d like to have your Father out here now. I know
he would enjoy it so much, walking about the
country, there are so many different directions
he could go and every time see something new,
and, so much different from things at home.
We have here, at the Fort, between forty and fifty
“contrabands” at work, upon the Fort and the
roads. George Ed Stone is their overseer for the
present.  (I shouldn’nt want the job)  I believe that
Government pays them about forty cents per
day for their labor, they are a lazy pack of fellows
and wo’nt hurt themselves with work, I am sure.
They seem to be very glad that they are freemen.
some of them are very intelligent. one old darkey,
among them is a preacher, and can preach a very
able discourse from the Bible, although he cant

[page 4]
read or write a word, he has preached to
us, in camp, one evening, and I can assure
you, he did do first rate.  We were all of us very
much interested, his discourse that evening was
upon the union, and union soldiers, after
he was done, we gave him three rousing cheers
which pleased him very much.  I tell you we
have some pretty jolly times with them, they
have got quite well aquainted with now,and we
get some of the smartest of them to come to
our tents, evenings, and make them dance, run
foot races, wrestle, and tell about their Masters
and Mistresses, down south.  We give them all
the spare bread and meat that we have, for which
they are very gratefull, thay think there is nobody
like union soldiers,  Well I guess you will
will[sic] be tired of my scribbling about “Niggers”
but I could’nt scratch out any ideas of my own,
and now, I’ve been trying for the last two minutes
to think of something that might interest you,
but I ca’nt, and I have got all of a sweat trying,
to do so, I shall have to give up in (despair) or hopes
that i shall be able to do better next time. I believe
now that after you get this yo will be indebted
to me three or four letters, and I shall expect to
get them, if, I receive them (and you write them)
I should like to hear from you every day but as that
is a blessing that I do not think I shall be permited
to enjoy, you will please write when you have an
opportunity and receive the thanks of your ever
faithfull and loving–
Robert
a Kiss for you, and the children

Robert, of Lynn, Massachusetts, an unidentified soldier in the 14th Massachusetts Heavy Artillery


MSS 1242

Hd. Qtrs, Dept. N. Va
June 1, 1862

Major
Please provide a large
house for me where I can lodge
all the Staff-and have sufficient
room to park my wagon train-
I want it on the outskirts
of the city and near General
Johnstons present quarters–Let
it be a shady place if possible

Respectfully
Your obt servt
Thos. G. Rhett
A.A. General

Major A. M. Barbour
Chf. Qr. Mr.
D. N. Va.

MSS 1174

[from the diary of Joseph Addison Waddell, former owner of the Staunton Spectator and a civilian employee of the Quartermaster Dept.]